Unity Developer (Vr Generalist)

We would like to appoint a Unity Developer - VR Generalist to play a key role within a newly NIHR funded project. The research focuses on the development, evaluation and testing of a Virtual Reality-enhanced Cue Exposure Treatment integrated with a wearable device to address craving, prevent relapse and improve treatment outcomes of people with cocaine dependence.

A key challenge in helping people to recover from cocaine addiction (or dependence) is their craving for the drug that can be triggered by ‘cues’ in their environment. Such as situations or objects, which remind them of the pleasurable effects of cocaine. This process is known as ‘classical conditioning’ and the aim of this study is to reduce the risk of relapse to cocaine through use of novel technologies to reduce craving.

Why do we want to do this?

The effectiveness of current talking therapies for cocaine dependence is limited by poor service user engagement and a high rate of relapse soon after the treatment ends. Some people experience intense craving for cocaine which leads to continued cocaine use, and existing treatments have little or no impact on this.

Previous research in people with alcohol dependence showed that repeated exposure to triggers (or cues) for alcohol use, in a safe treatment environment can significantly reduce their level of craving and relapse. This is known as ‘cue exposure treatment’ (CET). But CET has not been fully explored as a treatment for cocaine addiction although several studies have shown its potential.

The development of new technologies including virtual reality and wearable devices, to record real-time physical responses to cues in the patient’s everyday environment offer novel ways to deliver CET to help people overcome cocaine dependence.

What we plan to study

In this research we are planning to use virtual reality to develop more realistic CET environments which are tailored to the individual’s experiences and hence have a greater impact on reducing craving than previously available methods.

Cocaine craving and relapse to cocaine use are associated with physical changes to the body that can be measured. We are planning to ask individuals to wear a novel watch-like device that can measures physical changes to cues in their everyday environment. With this technology we will be able to identify in real time when they experience an episode of craving or start using cocaine again, to understand what real-life situations or circumstances have triggered these events and allow us to provide support remotely when we detect they encounter situations that increase their risk of relapse. We will test the ability of technology-enhanced CET to reduce craving and relapse to cocaine use compared to people receiving usual care.

Patient and public involvement

We have engaged people with cocaine dependence to help us design this research in a way that is acceptable and meaningful to their situation. We plan to continue to have extensive service user involvement throughout each stage of this research. In addition to research publications, we will work with service users to develop accessible briefings on the findings of the research.

This research is a collaboration involving five UK universities led from the Addictions Department at King’s College London, the University of Kent, Hull, Birmingham, and Southampton.

The person appointed will report to Dr Paolo Deluca - Lead applicant, through whom there will be accountability to the research’s management team. The appointee will also work with a Post-Doctoral Research Associate also based in the Addictions department, and with Jerome Di Pietro - Lead VR Developer and Dr Matteo Cella - Lead of the Virtual Reality Lab.

The successful candidate will be working to develop interactive VR experiences designed to better understand cocaine craving. Your primary responsibilities will be to translate experimental protocols into fully functional VR applications. A commitment to collaborative problem solving, sophisticated cutting-edge design and a quality product are essential.

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion in everything we do. Diverse people and communities shape our research and we strive to make opportunities to participate in research an integral part of everyone’s experience of health and social care services. We particularly welcome applications from black and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the university at this level.

This post will be offered on a full-time, fixed term contract for 2 years.

Contact details: Dr Paolo Deluca. Paolo.Deluca@kcl.ac.uk

Closing date: 25 March 2024.

To apply, please click “Apply Now”.

Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 24 months

Salary: £43,205.00-£47,978.00 per year

Work Location: In person

Reference ID: 085345